Bow operated air gun



Aug. 7, 1956 H. H. LOHMEYER 2,757,657

BOW OPERATED AIR GUN I35 ii N v m Henry H. Lohmeyer INVENTOR.

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7, 1956 H. H. LOHMEYER 2,757,657

BOW OPERATED AIR GUN Filed May 10, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Henry H. Lohmeyer INVENTOR.

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8 7, 1956 H. H. LOHMEYER Bow OPERATED AIR GUN Filed May 10, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet 4 w P. m .0 0 L H m e H IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent O BOW OPERATED AIR GUN Henry H. Lohmeyer, Ambrose,N. Dak.

Application May 10, 1954, Serial N 0. 428,424

6 Claims. (Cl. 124-45)) My invention relates to improvements in air gunsfor shooting pellets.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a compressed air gunoperated by a bow to shoot pellets at a high velocity.

Another object is to provide in such a gun air compressing means inwhich an air compressing piston is driven by impact thereagainst of adriver projected by the pull of the bow string and so as to facilitateejection of pellets from the gun at high velocity.

Another object is to provide improved means for loading pellets one at atime into the gun and which is substantially fool-proof and safe.

Still another object is to provide a gun of the type and for the purposeabove set forth and which is of simple construction, easy to operate,inexpensive to manufacture and not liable to get out of order.

Other and subordinate objects will become apparent when the succeedingdescription and claims are read with reference to the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved bowoperated air gun in the preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in horizontal section taken on the line 2-2of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in vertical transverse section taken on theline 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in vertical transverse section taken on theline 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical longitudinalsection partly broken away of the pneumatic breech cylinder, parts ofmeans for compressing air therein, and the pellet loading means;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating the operation of theair compressing means and the pellet loading mechanism;

Figure 7 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 7-7 ofFigure'6;

. Figure 8 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure5;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary View in vertical section with partsin side elevation and taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 2; I v

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken onthe line 10-10 of Figure 9;

; Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation partly invertical section illustrating the magazine clip;

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation partlybroken away illustrating the bow string restraining means;

Figure 13 is an enlarged view in vertical transverse section taken onthe line 13-13 of Figure 12; and

Figures 14' and 15 are fragmentary enlarged views in plan illustratingthe operation of the bow string restraining means.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the bow operated gun of myinvention embodies a conventional bow designated generally by thenumeral 1, the stick 3 and bow string 5 of which may be formed of anysuitable material. The stick 3 is preferably formed with a thickenedlongitudinal and flattened central portion 7.

According to my invention, a rearwardly extending U-shaped frame 9 ofright angled form and strap metal, preferably, is bolted, as at 11, tosaid portion 7 with upper and lower arms 13, 15 extending parallelrearwardly of the stick 3. A vertical hand grip member 17 is secured byscrews 19 between the rear ends of said arms 13, 15 and forms therewitha handle for the gun.

A pneumatic breech cylinder 21 of the gun surmounts the upper arm 13 andextends rearwardly from the stick 3 at a right angle to stick 3. Thecylinder 21 has a closed front end 23 provided with a forwardlyprojecting reduced nipple 25 removably fitted in an opening 27 in thestick 3. A downwardly tapered pellet loading chamber 29 is provided inthe front end 23 of the cylinder 21 and is vertically aligned with anupstanding front end guide sleeve 31 on said cylinder 21 for avertically slidable pellet loading plunger 33 forming part of pelletloading means 34 presently fully described.

A short rifled barrel 35 has its rear end threaded in the nipple 25 andextends forwardly of the stick 3 through areduced opening 36 in saidstick 3. The barrel 35 is axially aligned with cylinder 21 and withfront and rear compressed air discharge ports 37, 39 in the pelletloading chamber 29. As will be seen, the pneumatic cylinder 21 providesan air compressing chamber 41 in the rear of the pellet loading chamber29 communicating with said barrel through ports 37, 39.

A U-shaped fastener member 43 straddles the cylinder 21 intermediate itsends and is secured on top of upper arm 13 by a screw 45 extending intothe hand grip 17 and provided with washer 47 thereon in said fastener. Acylinder bridging slide 49 removably connected to member 43 by tongueand groove connections 51, 53 forms with member 43 means for detachablyattaching the cylinder 21 to the frame 13.

Returning now to the pellet loading means 34, the pellet loading plunger33 is vertically slidable in the guide sleeve 31 into upper and lowerpellet receiving and loading positions, shown in Figures 5 and 6,respectively, and is provided with a transverse horizontal pelletreceiving bore 55 having a flared rear end 57.

'The pellet loading plunger is rotatable in the guide sleeve 31 to lockthe same in its pellet receiving and lowering positions by means of atransverse locking pin 59 therein, above the bore 55, rotatable intoupper and lower angular ends,61, 63 of vertical slot 65 in the guidesleeve 31. ,The pin 59 traverses a vertical slot 67 in said plunger33and a resilient plug 69 in said slot 67 urges said plunger 33 downwardlyrelative to said pin 59 so thatin the lowered; pellet loading positionof said plunger 33, its lower end fits with an air sealing fit in thepellet loading chamber 29.

Lowering of the pellet loading plunger 33 into pellet loading positionand locking of the same in that position aligns the pelletreceiving bore55 with the ports 37, 39

for ejection of a pellet into and out of the barrel 35 by pelletmagazine cylinder on the guide sleeve 31 parallel with cylinder 21 andprovided with an upstanding tubular the disk 111 and a washer 125 on thebolt.

filler throat 77 and embodying a coaxial guide sleeve 79 in the rear ofthe throat 77.

A pellet ejector plunger 81 is slidable forwardly in the guide sleeve 79to eject pellets 83 one at a time forwardly out of the magazine cylinder75 into the bore 55 of pellet loading plunger 33, when the latter israised and locked in raised position, so that lowering of the pelletloading plunger and locking of the same in lowered position will alignthe pellet 83 with the ports 37, 39 and thus load the gun.

A coil spring 85 surrounding said ejector plunger 81 and the guidesleeve 79 between a rear end push-button 87 on said plunger and acircumferential flange 89 on magazine cylinder 75 tensions said ejectorplunger 81 against forward sliding and returns the same to normalposition. A key 91 on said ejector plunger 81 slidable in a longitudinalkeyway 93 in magazine cylinder 75 establishes the normal position ofsaid ejector plunger 81.

The pellets 83 are hourglass-shaped and resilient and are adapted to fitin the bore 55 with rear ends compressed and frictionally locked in theflared rear end 57 of said bore so that the pellets will be expelledfrom said bore suddenly under high compression of air in the aircompression chamber 41.

The pellets 83 may either be dropped one at a time through the throat 77into the magazine cylinder 75, in front of the ejector plunger 81, or aclip 95 of the pellets, as shown in Figure 11, may be provided on thethroat.

The clip 95 comprises a tube 97 having an enlarged lower end 99 adaptedto be detachably sleeved downwardly onto the throat 77. The tube 97 isof a size to contain pellets 83 in stacked formation for gravity feed,one at a time, into the magazine cylinder 75 under the influence of aspring urged follower 101 in the upper end of said tube 97 confinedtherein by a screw cap 103 on said upper end.

Air is compressed in the air compression chamber 41 by means of a piston105 driven forwardly by means presently described, from a retractedposition shown in Figure into an advanced position shown in Figure 6 andwhereby to compress air between the same and a pellet 83 loaded into thegun, as shown in Figure 6, until the air pressure overcomes the frictionlock between said pellet and the rear end 57 of bore 55 so as to expelthe pellet.

The piston 105 comprises a resilient cup member 107 on an axial bolt109, a rear metal disk 111 on said bolt behind a washer 113, front locknuts 115 on said bolt 109 and a resilient shock absorbing cap 117 on thefront end of said bolt for engaging an opening to the chamber 29 in theadvanced position of said piston.

Means for locking the piston 105 in retracted position is providedincluding a U-shaped resilient expansible and contractible grip 119comprising a circular series of resilient fingers 121 extending in thecylinder 21 rearwardly from said piston 105 and from a connectingannular base 123 on the bolt 109 clamped thereby between The fingers 121expand in the retracted position of the piston 105 to engage outwardlybowed hooked ends 127 thereon in an annular groove 129 in the rear endof chamber 41 for coaction with said groove to yieldingly lock saidpiston 105 retracted.

Driving means for the piston 105 comprises a bow driven ram rod 131adapted to be projected into the chamber 41 through an axially aperturedclosure cap 133 on the rear end of the cylinder 21 and from a retractedposition in the rear of the breech cylinder 21 and remote from theretracted piston 105 so as to ram said piston 105 with a sharp impact todrive the same forwardly.

A pair of laterally spaced channel guide bars 135 for the ram rod 131extend rearwardly from the cap 133 at diametrically opposite sides ofsaid cap 133 with front ends welded as at 137 to the rear end of saidcap and with channels facing and rear ends cross-connected by circularresiliently padded T-shaped cross-head 139 welded to said bars 135, asat 141, and forming a rest for the palm of a hand holding the bow string5 drawn. The guide bars 135 are spaced to slidably straddle oppositesides of the ram rod 131 so as to provide guide means therefor and whichaligns said rod 131 with the piston and extend parallel with cylinder 21as will be understood.

The bow string 5 is slidably extended through an aperture 143 in the ramrod 131 adjacent the rear end of said rod for retraction and projectionof said ram rod 131 by drawing and release of the bow string 5. Theguide bars are substantially longer than the ram rod 131 so that whenthe bow string 5 is fully drawn, said rod is retracted rearwardly of theretracted piston 105 a substantial distance, and as best shown in Figure2.

As best shown in Figure 6, when the bow string 5 is released, the ramrod 131 drives the piston 105 forwardly by impact with the bolt 109, andits front end is positioned between the fingers 121 and when the grip119 is advanced by the piston 105 forwardly of the groove 129 a shortdistance, the hooked ends 127 of fingers 121 slidably engage and arecammed by the inner wall of chamber 41 into a circumferential groove 145in said rod adjacent its front end whereby said rod is interlocked withsaid grip 119 and will retract the piston 105 therewith for snap actioninterlocking of said fingers with groove 129 in the manner previouslydescribed to lock the piston 105 retracted.

The cap 133 and guide bars 135 are detachably secured to the barrel 21by means of a U-shaped latching bail 147 having its ends pivoted inopposite sides of the central portion 7 of the bow stick 3 and which isvertically swingable downwardly in straddling relation to said stick andto the cylinder 21 and cap 133 to engage its bight end 149 behind a topstud 151 on said cap 133. The bight end 149 inclines upwardly andrearwardly of the sides of said bail so that it engages said stud undertension and with a snap action. A radial top stud 153 on the cylinder 21received in a front edge notch 155 in said cap prevents rotation of thecap 133 and guide bars 135 relative to cylinder 21 and aligns the stud151 with the bail.

A front sight finger 157 is attached to the throat and cylinder 21 inupstanding position as at 159, 161 and a rear notched sight bar 163 toone of the guide bars 135, as at 165, also in upstanding position. Thesight finger 157 and sight bar 163 are both at the left side of thecylinder 21 and inclined upwardly and outwardly therefrom for sightingwhile in vertical position by turning the how 1 through an angle ofsubstantially 15 degrees as is customary in archery.

Bow string restraining means is provided on the guide bars 135comprising the following. A forked holding dog 167 for the ram rod ispivoted to one guide bar 135 adjacent the cross-head, or rest, 139 as at169 to swing in opposite directions in the plane of said bars 135 in alongitudinal slot 171 in said one guide bar. The bold ing dog 167 has aforked front end 173 and a tail end 175 and is pivoted intermediate saidends. A pair of coil springs 177 extending across the top and bottom ofguide bars 135 are connected at corresponding ends to opposite ends of across-pin 179 in said tail end 175 which is disposed at the outer sideof one guide bar 135. The other ends of the springs 177 are connected toopposite ends of another cross-pin 181 fixed to the outer side of theother guide bar 135. Pin 181 is spaced rearwardly of pivot 169 so thatdog 167 may be swung forwardly or rearwardly into holding and releasingpast dead center positions in which it is held by springs 177 as shownin Figures 14 and 15, respectively, both positions being established byengagement of pin 179 with the adjacent guide bar 135. The ram rod 131is notched, as at 183, to provide a rear terminal, lateral lug 185.

The bow string restraining means described in the foregoing operates asfollows. Whcn the bow string 5 is drawn, the ram rod 131 is retractedand its lug 185 engages the front end of the holding dog 167 as shown inFigure 14 and swings the same into holding position in which its forkstraddles said lug. When the bow string is released to drive the ram rod131 forwardly, said lug 185 as the ram rod 131 starts forwardly swingssaid dog 167 into releasing position as shown in Figure 15. In itsholding position, the holding dog 167 assists in holding the bow string5 drawn to reduce the pull of the string against fingers of theoperator.

A rubber plug 131' recessed in the front end of the ram rod 131 may beprovided to cushion impact of the ram rod against the piston 105.

The foregoing-will, it is believed, suifice to impart a clearunderstanding of the invention since the operation thereof has been setforth in connection With the description of parts.

Manifestly, the invention is susceptible of modification withoutdeparting from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved tosuch as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a pellet shooting gun, a bow stick having a string.

air compression chamber communicating with said load- I ing chamber,plunger operated means on said cylinder for loading pellets into saidloading chamber, a piston in said compression chamber adapted foradvance from a retracted position to compress air in said compressionchamber for expelling pellets forwardly out of said loading chamber andbarrel, an impact striking driver rod for said piston, rearwardlyextending, opposite channel bars on said cylinder slidably mounting saiddriver therebetween for advance and retraction into and out of saidcylinder to impact and drive said piston, expansible spring means onsaid piston frictionally engaging the wall of said compression chamberto yieldingly lock said piston in retracted position for impact by saiddriver and means operatively connecting said string to said driver toretract and advance said driver when said string is drawn and releasedrespectively, said driver being separate from said piston for retractioninto a position in the rear of and spaced from said piston to impactsaid piston when the piston is retracted.

2. The combination of claim 1, said means on said piston comprisingresilient fingers and a groove in said compression chamber engaged mysaid fingers.

3. The combination of claim 1, said means on said piston comprisingresilient fingers compressible by the wall of said compression chamberupon advance of said piston into interlocking engagement with saiddriver to lock said piston to the driver for retraction thereby.

4. In a pellet shooting gun, a bow stick having a string and a centralportion, a rifle barrel extending forwardly from said central portion, acylinder extending rearwardly from said central portion and having afront pellet loading chamber communicating with said barrel and a rearair compression chamber communicating with said load-- ing chamber, apiston in said compression chamber adapted for advance from a retractedposition to compress air in said compression chamber for expellingpellets forwardly out of said loading chamber and barrel, an impactstriking driver rod for said piston, means on said cylinder slidablymounting said driver for advance and retraction into and out of saidcylinder to impact and drive said piston, expansible spring means onsaid piston frictionally engaging the wall of said compression chamberto yieldingly lock the piston in retracted position for impact by saiddriver, and means operatively connecting said string to said driver toretract and advance said driver when said string is drawn and releasedrespectively, said first named means comprising a pair of laterallyspaced channel guide bars extending rearwardly from said cylinder andslidably supporting said driver therebetween in the channels thereof,said driver being separate from said piston for retraction into aposition inthe rear of and spaced from said piston, to impact saidpiston when the piston is retracted.

5. The combination of claim 1, and a spring tensioned pivoted holdingdog on one of said bars for said striker engaging the striker when thelatter is retracted to yieldingly oppose pull of the bowstring andsWingable into striker disengaging position by advance of the striker inresponse to pull of said string suflicient to overcome the tension ofsaid spring.

.6. In a pellet shooting gun, a bow stick having a string and a centralportion, a rifle barrel extending forwardly from said central portion, acylinder extending rearwardly from said central portion and having afront pellet loading chamber communicating With said barrel and a rearair compression chamber communicating with said loading chamber, plungeroperated means on said cylinder for loading pellets in said loadingchamber, a piston in said compression chamber adapted for advance from aretracted position to compress air in said compression chamber forexpelling pellets forwardly out of said loading chamber and barrel, animpact driver for said piston, means on said cylinder slidably mountingsaid driver for advance and retraction into and out of said cylinder toimpact and drive said piston, expansible means on said piston coactingwith the wall of said compression chamber to yieldingly lock said pistonin retracted position for impact by said driver, and means operativelycon necting said string to said driver to retract and advance the driverwhen the string is drawn and released respectively, said means formounting the driver comprising a pair of laterally spaced channel guidebars extending rearwardly from said cylinder and slidably supportingsaid driver therebetween in the channels thereof, said driver beingseparate from said piston for retraction into a position in the rear ofand spaced from said piston to impact said piston when the piston isretracted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,102,204 Shue June 30, 1914 1,526,176 OConnel Feb. 10, 1925 2,214,224Douglas Sept. 10, 1940 2,572,176 Mihalyi Oct. 23, 1951

